Microphone types and characteristics

The history of microphones and development and how a microphone works

The first microphone invented was made up of a metal diaphragm attached to a needle and this needle then marked a pattern onto a piece of metal foil. The pressure of what was being recorded would apply different air pressures therefore changing the way the pattern was made. After the sound had been recorded the needle was then run back over the foil. The marked foil would then move the diaphragm and therefore re-create the sound. Furthermore this purely mechanical system works to shows how much energy the vibrations in the air have. Modern microphones today are trying to reproduce the original source, but instead of intending to do it mechanically apply it electronically. Any microphone intends to take varying pressure waves in the air and then convert them into varying electrical signals. Therefore there are many different technologies that use this process to accomplish this conversion. This also includes one of the first microphones invented by Alexander Graham Bell.

Microphone types

Dynamic Our generation has most commonly used a dynamic microphone. In most television shows or live performances the dynamic mic is one of the most likely microphones to be used. In studio and instruments such as drums, electric guitar, basses are also greatly recorded by the dynamic mic. The advantages of a dynamic are; they arent too expensive, they are hard-wearing, they can run without power supply or batteries to make them work. A lightweight diaphragm, is commonly made of a plastic film, which is attached to a small coil of wire which is suspended in the field of a permanent magnet. When sound effects the diaphragm to then vibrate, the whole product works as a miniature electricity generator, and because of this a minute electric current is then produced. Due to this the electrical output is so small; we then have to amplify the output using a mic preamp before it is large enough to be used.

But we havent mentioned the disadvantage of using this mic. If they say there hard-wearing, dont need any power/battery supply and furthermore they are affordable then why shouldnt we stick to just the one microphone? In theo ry the dynamic mic sounds great, but in practice it doesnt work up to the same standards. The weakness comes about when the sound energy has to move the mic diaphragm as well as the wire coil attached to it. The way the mic has been put together means that the mass of the coil adds to the interia of the diaphragm assembly. Due to this it restricts the frequency response of the microphone. Overall the microphone fails to reproduce very high frequencies to an accurate standard. Furthermore the microphone is not particularly efficient and therefore the more amplification has to be used to create a good useful larger signal. In the studios where microphones are used very closely with sound source the lack of efficiency is not a big deal. The problem lies when you are trying to catch distant sound, the microphone fails to impress in this section of sound. To wrap it all up into one; the dynamic mic is good quality when using loud sound sources that dont contain a lot of high frequency detail. To add to that they are hard wearing, this brings out amazing quality in live sounds.

Capacitor Electric condenser

Ribbon A ribbon microphone is another type of dynamic microphone. But these are only used in esoteric recording by engineers who use the subtleties of the ribbon sound. These microphones are made up of a thin metal ribbon suspended in a magnetic field, when the sound energy is then encountered, the electrical signal

generated is induced in the ribbon itself rather than using a coil. The advantage of this microphone is; they bring out smooth, detailed sound, the disadvantages are their higher cost and they are more delicate than the normal conventional microphones.

Carbon A carbon microphone is a type of microphone which could also be known as a carbon button microphone. The microphone uses a capsule also know to some as a button which contains carbon granules which is pressed between to metal plates. Once voltage is applied across the metal plates it causes a small current to flow through the carbon. Due to this the diaphragm vibrates with incident sound waves causing a pressure on the carbon.

Metal Plates

The constant change of pressure allows the granules to become deformed and therefore causing the amount of granules to change. This change causes the current following through the microphone to cause an electrical signal. This type of microphone was once used in telephones as they have a limited frequency response and also have low sound reproduction. Also due to the way these microphones have been thought out they are powerful and sturdy piece of machinery.

Crystal Handheld/ stand Tieclip/ laviel

Boom Polar patterns Onmy corded hypercardiod Figure of eight Radio microphones

Application
Bibliography http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/audio-music/question309.htm http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1995_articles/jun95/microphones.html http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/capacitor.htm